Abstract
Menopause is characterized by deep metabolic disturbances, including decreased insulin
sensitivity, adiposity, and changes in lipid profiles. Estrogen replacement therapy
can partially reverse these changes, and while it is safe in most healthy postmenopausal
women, there are still existing concerns regarding an increased risk for breast and
endometrial cancer as well as a risk for cardiovascular and thromboembolic disease.
Therefore, certain natural compounds with positive metabolic effects may be considered
as a possible alternative or adjunctive treatment in patients not willing to take
estrogens or patients with contraindications for estrogens. The aim of this study
was to investigate the influence of Sideritis scardica (mountain tea) extract on metabolic disturbances induced by ovariectomy in rats.
The study included 24 rats divided into three groups: ovariectomized rats treated
with 200 mg/kg S. scardica extract for 24 weeks (n = 8), ovariectomized non-treated (n = 8), and Sham-operated
(n = 8) rats. Food intake, weight gain, body composition, fasting glucose levels,
response to oral glucose challenge, liver glycogen content, catalase activity, thiol
groups, and malondialdehyde concentrations as well as AMP-activated protein kinase
activity in liver cells were studied. Ovariectomized rats treated with S. scardica extract had lower blood triglycerides, reduced fasting glucose levels, as well lower
glucose peaks after oral glucose challenge, increased liver glycogen content, and
significantly higher catalase activity and thiol group concentration than non-treated
ovariectomized rats. The ability of S. scardica extract to attenuate metabolic disturbances associated with ovariectomy was associated
with the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in liver cells.
Key words
Sideritis scardica
- Lamiaceae - menopause - ovariectomy - metabolic disturbance - AMPK
